You may feel helpless when a property loss occurs, but acting quickly after a loss can often help minimize the damages. Read through our guide below, then call us. The Critical Importance of Immediate Response Smoke or Soot Damage: Within minutes - Plastic and paper items discolor Within hours - Desks, chairs, and other equipment begin to yellow. Metals begin corroding. Grout stains. Within days - Wall coverings and paint discolor permanently. Carpet, upholstery and window dressings become permanently stained. Vinyl and wood flooring discolors. Glass and related products etch or pit. Water Damage: Within minutes - Metal (nails, screws, cornerbead) begins to rust Within hours - Plywood de-laminates and particle board buckles. Furniture cracks, splits, warps and stains carpet. Dyes transfer from wall coverings and rugs. Within days - Mildew appears along with “musty” odor. Electronics corrode and malfunction. Water Damage AIR CONDITIONING: Turn on air conditioner to speed drying in summer. ART OBJECTS & PAINTINGS: Remove valuable paintings and pictures from wet walls. Transfer all art objects to a safe place. BOOKS & MAGAZINES: Do not leave books, magazines or other colored items on wet carpet or floor. CARPETING: Blot wet carpeting with clean white towels. Remove oriental rugs or other colored rugs from wet wall-to-wall carpet. Place a fan so air flows over carpet, speeding the drying process. CEILINGS: Punch small holes in sagging ceilings to relieve trapped water. Place plastic (not metal) bucket under leak. Do not turn on ceiling fixtures if ceiling is wet. CLOTHING FABRICS: Move wet items to a dry place. Open and empty drawers and cabinets for complete drying. Hang furs and leather goods to dry separately at room temperature. ELECTRICAL: Disconnect all power to affected areas. Do not operate your TVs or other electrical appliances while standing on wet carpets or floors, especially on wet concrete floors. Do not use your household vacuum to remove water. FLOORS: Remove as much standing water as possible by mopping or blotting. FURNITURE: Move lighter furniture off carpeting. Place plastic wrap or plastic bags beneath legs of larger furniture. Wipe water from wood furniture. SUITCASES & LUGGAGE: Open suitcases and luggage to dry, in sunlight if possible. WATER SOURCE: If possible, stop source of water. Turn off outside water main, or call plumber or other qualified tradesman, if necessary, to stop source. Contact fire department if unable to locate or turn off water main. UPHOLSTERY: Remove and prop up wet upholstery cushions for even drying. Check for possible bleeding. Vandalism APPLIANCES: Do not attempt to operate damaged appliances. ART OBJECTS & PAINTINGS: Retrieve and retain all broken pieces of porcelain and art objects, including vacuumed pieces. CARPETS: Wipe up freshly spilled food from carpets and fabrics with a dampened cloth or sponge. (Do not overwet) Blot damaged area. Do not rub. Rubbing may cause fuzzing and damage carpet fibers. EXTERIOR & WALLS: Hose down egg residue from building exterior as soon as possible. Wash egg residue from walls with cold water—no soap— as soon as possible. Do not attempt to remove paint, ink or cosmetic stains. FURNITURE: Save all wood chips or broken pieces of furniture. WINDOWS & GLASS: Do not attempt to remove large pieces of glass from window panes or picture frames. Carefully vacuum smaller glass particles from carpets and upholstery. Items will need to be evaluated. LAW ENFORCEMENT: Be sure to check with police in order to preserve a potential crime scene, before beginning cleanup. Save any containers that may help to identify the chemical composition of inks, paints, or cosmetics used during incidents of vandalism. Fire & Smoke APPLIANCES & ELECTRONICS: Do not utilize any TV, stereo or electronic appliance until it has been cleaned and checked. Empty refrigerator or freezer completely if electricity is off. Prop the doors open with a rolled towel. CARPETS: Brush or vacuum loose smoke particles from carpets. Avoid walking or tracking on carpet if possible. Do not use “do-it-yourself” home carpet cleaners. CEILINGS & WALLS: Do not wipe or attempt to wash ceilings or other absorbent surfaces. DOORS: Close doors in affected areas to localize smoke odors as much as possible. FOOD ITEMS: Do not consume food items exposed to smoke or canned goods which have been subjected to excessive heat. FURNACE: Change the furnace filter if the blower is operating. Attach double pieces of cheesecloth over air registers with masking tape. FURNITURE: If possible, avoid using upholstered furniture. PETS: Remove all pets to a clean environment. PLANTS: Wash plants with mild soap and water, cleaning both sides of the leaves (water softener helps). PLUMBING: Call a plumber to drain and winterize the system if the heat will be turned off in the winter. WINDOWS: If possible, open windows to ventilate. GENERAL: Do initial wipedown of all horizontal surfaces to prevent acidic soot residue from etching. Proud members of the following organizations: